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A GOMER (commonly Gomer or Gomere) is a medical slang term for a patient in a hospital who is demented (and not fully conscious) or bordering on death, hence taking up room unnecessarily in the hospital.^{[citation needed]} Doctors and nurses may feel that they shouldn't receive life prolonging treatments anymore and should just be allowed to die peacefully.

[edit] Origins and etymology

"Gomer" stands for Get Out of My Emergency Room, reflecting the annoyance of the doctors. It first appeared in widespread print in the medical novel The House of God by Samuel Shem, and was used mostly in the 1980s and 1990s. It is still used today, although many medical professionals find it disrespectful and unprofessional.^{[citation needed]} In 2004, the television show Scrubs used the term in an episode to describe an old demented patient who could only say one word. Also on Scrubs, on the episode My Dumb Luck, the term is used to describe geriatric patients. It was used in the pilot episode of Scrubs "My First Day" (2001) as well. ER also used the term.

[edit] External links

• Gomer on WorldWideWords
• "The House of God" book information

[edit] Use in a sentence

"I really do not feel like treating the two Gomers in the E.R."

"Rule One: GOMERS DON'T DIE." (From The House of God)

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